New Frontier Press, 2019. ISBN 9781925594539.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Insects, Grandfathers, Collecting,
Hobbies, Environment, Museums. When his Grandfather takes George to
the museum on his favourite day of the week, Sunday, Grandfather
takes the lead, pulling him past the dinosaurs, whales and mammoths
to a place he likes best of all, the smallest creatures in the
museum, the insects. George becomes hooked on these marvellous
creatures and can talk of nothing else. He creates a backpack with
all the necessary equipment and goes out to collect insects. At
first it is very difficult, as the insects seem to know when he is
about to net them, but he soon develops skills that see him net and
trap a whole array of the insect world. He is very proud of his
achievement, looking at all the insects in their finery in glass
jars and bottles in his play house, but when he climbs down the
ladder to go back home, he feels very alone. It is very quiet, there
are no insects buzzing around the garden any more, no small
creatures to look at and admire; they are all gone.
Next day in the garden he notices that nothing looks quite right:
plants have wilted, trees are losing their gloss and there are no
insects to be seen. Grandfather realises that George has taken all
the insects from the garden and he explains just how important
insects are to the health of the environment they live in. George
goes immediately to his play house and opens all the doors and
windows, bottles and jars to let the insects out and back into their
world.
A life lesson is learnt by all in an easily explained picture book
which will evoke tons of discussion in the classroom, and all
insects that venture in will be watched with glee. The humorous
illustrations fit the bill, with Grandfather in his tiny hat, and
Darwinesque beard, George with his backpack and ever present cat,
and an array of insects on every page.
I love the ease with which Griffiths outlines some basic information
about the role of insects in our world, sure to be much thought
about in classrooms.
Fran Knight
Gone by midnight by Candice Fox
Crimson Lake bk. 3. Bantam, 2019. ISBN: 9780143789154.
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Themes: Crime, Detectives. Ted Conkaffey is
back with his partner, Amanda Pharrell, in a suspenseful, locked
room mystery. Following on from the success of the first two books
in this series, Crimson Lake and Redemption Point,
Fox once again writes an engrossing story that keeps the reader
guessing right until its thrilling conclusion. Four young boys had
been left alone in a locked room, while their parents dine
downstairs. When one of the parents checks on the children, they
discover one of them is missing and no trace of his whereabouts can
be found on the CCTV of the building. Conkaffey and Amanda are
brought in by the parent of the missing child and begin to
investigate what has really happened that night.
Lovers of mysteries and police procedurals will really enjoy this
story, trying to follow the clues and work out just what has
happened to the young boy. Amanda's abrasive personality and quirky
dialogue brings some welcome relief to the story, and Fox's
exploration of the joys and responsibilities of parenthood adds
depth to the mystery. Ted is supposed to be caring for his daughter
Lillian, at the time of the investigation, and has to call on his
friend to help childmind while he leaves to follow leads, and Sara,
the mother of the missing boy, is fighting her ex-husband for
custody. The background of the crocodile infested Crimson Lake in
Northern Queensland, Amanda's bikie friends and her stalker all add
colour and vitality to a clever and well written book.
Ned Kelly award winning author, Fox, gives enough background for
this to be read as a stand-alone crime story, but new readers would
find that the first two in the series are well worth pursuing.
Pat Pledger
Adventure Duck vs Power Pug by Steve Cole
Illus. Aleksei Bitskoff. Orchard Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781408356838.
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Themes: Superpowers, Humour, Good vs evil.
Imagine a meteor lands and the impact creates a surge of energy that
transforms animals nearby into over-charged versions of themselves
with powers that defy reason . . . and that is the premise to this
book. When an ordinary duck, living an ordinary life in a local duck
pond, (A Duck, self-named as Adventure Duck) becomes the recipient
of this excessive burst of 'super' and supreme influence, he also
gets to team up with a mind-reading egg (with Eggstra-sensory
Perception) and a striking Neon Zebra to bring their evil nemesis,
Power Pug and his sidekick, Apocalypse Cow, to their knees.
This book does defy reason, but the extremely quirky characters with
their bizarre powers are entertaining. The story is filled with
mildly amusing puns and expressions that will appeal to young
readers. With a second book to follow, ready to incorporate
Adventure Duck's talents, young readers who enjoy humorous stories
will be recommending this book to their friends.
This is not great literature, and the illustrations are suitably
eccentric, but kids will be laughing as they read and will enjoy the
super-charged hapless superhero.
Recommended for readers aged 6+.
Carolyn Hull
Boy oh boy by Cliff Leek
Illus. by Bene Rohlmann. Quarto Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9781786033291.
Themes: Masculinity, Activism, Racism, LGBTIQ. Subtitled 'From boys
to men', inspired by 30 coming-of-age stories of sportsmen,
artists, politicians, educators and scientists, Boy oh boy
is a collection of biographical entries to highlight the way that
different young men from around the world have expressed their
strength, individuality and their influence in the world. The
variety of expressions of what it is to be a man is deliberate in
showing that there are many ways to do this. From Nelson Mandela,
Mohammed Ali, Gandhi to Prince and LeBron James, there are many
examples of activists, politicians, musicians, artists and sports
stars that have changed the world in some way. Many of the men will
be unknown to young readers, but do make interesting
reading. There are also individuals whose fame has also given them
opportunity to serve and impact the world and a number of LGBTIQ
individuals whose stories of overcoming discrimination are told in
this collection.
Illustrated with a Pop Art style bright design for each bio page,
there is a youthful and non-realistic representation for each man
depicted. This is ironic for a non-fiction biography and perhaps
will attract some, and dissuade others from reading this book and
may make it difficult to be used as a reference book.
Carolyn Hull
Follow after me by Allison Marlow Paterson
Big Sky Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9781925675580.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: World War I; Romance; War;
Family history. This is cross-generational story involving both a
World War I story and a contemporary coming of age drama and
romantic tale. It is compelling, romantic and sad, and yet also has
heart-warming qualities. In 1916 we hear of the young girl Evie,
whose boyfriend, Tom, goes to war with four of his five brothers.
Sadly, only two of the young family members will return home. The
heartbreak for one family is intense, and for Evie the uncertainty
is also heart-rending. In a time when letters provide an opportunity
to share one's heart, Evie and Tom share their lives and love
despite the separation of war.
Generations later, these letters and their insights into the past,
with the other family communications from the brothers, are
rediscovered by Lizzie's family in an abandoned and slightly ghostly
family home. Lizzie is encouraged to read the letters, but is going
through some personal turmoil and contemporary challenges. Her
friendship choices, social media, school and romantic life have
taken a twist that threatens to create her own dramatic conflict
with potentially disastrous consequences. A social encounter
involving alcohol and a potential sexual assault reveals the danger
to which poor choices can lead. A gentle fellow student and a
protective older brother prove to be her heroes and more trustworthy
than her new friends. As these two story threads are woven together,
the author reveals the intensity and dangers that impact
relationships can have similar elements across the generations, but
the stresses of the times are quite different. Both storylines are
gripping and the insights into the Anzac soldier's life are
compelling.
Allison Marlow Paterson has based her World War I story line on her
own family history detailed in her non-fiction work, Anzac Sons.
Because of the truths of the circumstances from her own ancestry,
this story resonates with tragedy. The facts of the war are
well-detailed from her own research, and using her own family
records and information from the Australian War Memorial. The
setting of both generational tales in rural Australia is also
revealing. The modern storyline incorporates many modern dramas -
sexting, the dangers of choosing the 'wrong' friends, social media
dilemmas, and the misunderstandings across generations. Lizzie's
school visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra is a turning
point in the book and for anyone who has visited, will remind them
of the solemn experience.
This is a very readable book, and will stay with the reader for some
time. Romantic and sad; confronting and gentle . . . and worthy of
recommendation. Highly recommended for those who love social
history, aged 14+.
Carolyn Hull
A quiet girl by Peter Carnavas
University of Queensland Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780702260025.
(Age: 4-8) Highly recommended. Themes: Sounds, Listening, Personal
characteristics. Peter Carnavas's distinctive illustrations have a
calming, soft and peaceful quality perfectly suited to the themes of
this book. His previous publications, including The
Children Who Loved Books and The
Elephant, tend to encourage treading lightly on the
world and stopping to appreciate the world around us, and A
Quiet Girl is no exception. Mary is a free-spirit and the
house seems to be full of things that she has made out of rubbish:
bird feeders, wind chimes, pots and vases. She is also very quiet:
she walks quietly, talks quietly and thinks quietly. 'Because Mary
was quiet, she heard things nobody else heard. A dragonfly buzzing
through the air. The soft sigh of the sleeping dog next door'. The
problem is, Mary is so quiet nobody hears her. 'Use a nice, LOUD
voice', says her dad over the racket of the blender. 'Speak up,
honey', says her mum over the roar of the hairdryer. But she just
can't do it, so instead she becomes quieter and quieter until it
almost feels like she isn't there and the illustrations show her
gradually lose colour and disappear. The story ends with Mary and
her noisy family sitting down together and listening 'for all of the
small wonderful things that lay hidden in the world'. It is
beautiful to see them all entering Mary's world for a little while
and it highlights the importance of recognising and appreciating
differences and personal characteristics; she is different to the
rest of her family, but that is okay. Mary's gentle interaction with
the world encourages the reader to take note and revel in the wonder
in the world: 'the smell of freshly cut grass . . . the tickle of
the breeze ruffling her hair'.
This book is a little reminiscent of Margaret Wild's recent The
Sloth Who Came to Stay in its message to slow down and
enjoy the little things around us, but it is also about taking note
of those children who are quieter and sometimes get lost or
misunderstood in the ruckus of everyday life: a beautiful and
thought-provoking message for all teachers, parents and noisy
friends. Teacher
notes are available.
Nicole Nelson
Fart Monster and me: The birthday party by Tim Miller and Matt Stanton
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780733340208.
(Age: 5-9) Themes: Birthday parties, Humour. This is the third book
in the Fart Monster series (The Crash Landing, The
New School). It uses simple language, perfect for newly
independent readers. The content will also be appealing and
relatable, even for slightly older children, making it a great
series to try with struggling or reluctant readers. The series is
wonderfully Australian, full of toilet humour and reflective of the
everyday life of a typical Aussie kid. For those not familiar with
the previous titles in the series there is a helpful prologue
introducing Ben and his green fart monster who crash-landed in his
yard. Luckily (and unluckily) Ben is the only one who can see the
fart monster, so someone else is forever being blamed for his
stench.
In The Birthday Party, Ben's whole class have been invited
to Chris's birthday party and the fart monster is there too. There
are plenty of party games and lots of farts being blamed on the dog.
If you take out the constant farting this would just be a story of a
kid going to a birthday party but add the farts in and it gives it a
little more oomph. It's silly and repetitive but the jokes are just
right for the target audience and it is a perfect length, layout and
text for beginner readers. There are black line illustrations
throughout showing the hideous fart monster, which will help to keep
readers engaged.
Nicole Nelson
Me and my sister by Rose Robbins
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760524456.
(Ages: 3-8) Themes: Autism, Differences, Siblings. Me and My
Sister indirectly and gently looks at what it's like to live
with a sibling with autism. It doesn't label the sister as having
autism but her brother points out things that make them different
(she doesn't use many words, likes different foods, can be rude to
people, goes to a different school, doesn't get told for things that
he would get in trouble for, doesn't always like hugs). The book
also highlights things that they like doing together or that they
can help each other with (listening to music, comforting each other,
reading together, laughing together). The brother acknowledges that
he doesn't always understand his sister or how other people respond
to her, which is a common issue with siblings of children with
autism and other disabilities. It shows the highs and lows common in
any relationship, but the love between the two is clear.
The illustrations are warm and cheerful and it is a nice change to
see a female depicted with autism in a picture book as it is
commonly boys that feature. The author (based in England) has a
brother with autism and she teaches autistic young children; this
knowledge and understanding of everyday life with a person with
autism is obvious and the tone of the book is empathetic and loving.
This could be used as a general book about accepting difference in
others but it will be much more appealing and meaningful to those
who have a family member with autism.
Nicole Nelson
Baby business by Jasmine Seymour
Magabala Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925768671.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Aboriginal themes, Country,
Babies, Smoking ceremonies. When a child is born, the women of the
Darug community take the baby into the bush, gathering paperbark
leaves, the leaves from green bushes and termite mound mud to
prepare a smoking ceremony. This ceremony welcomes the new child
into the community, making sure it will know things about the
environment into which it is born and ensuring that it will follow
the path of the community's laws. Warm smoke from the fire tickles
the baby's feet making sure it is connected to Country; smoke winds
its way to the heart ensuring the child knows it is cared for by
Country; the smoke reaches the hands reminding the child that it
takes only what it needs; smoke reaches the mouth and tongue keeping
the language and songs of the ancestors alive and smoke reaches the
ears making sure it will listen for the song of the bees, the baby's
totem.
Each facet of the baby's life is mentioned in the smoking ceremony,
passing on the laws that will make sure it survives just as its
ancestors have for millennia.
This beautiful book shows a ritual as old as time - that of
welcoming a new child into the community. All readers will be able
to relate to this act be it in a church, temple, home, Country, as
laws are passed on, customs reinforced, responsibilities outlined.
The book's digital illustrations, are simply stunning. The figures
move through a wonderful landscape, with browns, greys and white
predominant in the background, and keen eyes will notice specific
plants and animals on the pages. The women's group collect their
materials as they go, sitting in a semi-circle around the fire as
the smoke curls up around the baby. They are all part of its growth,
each taking part in its education into the community, the family a
strong part of the child's development.
Darug words are used throughout the text, and many readers will work
out what each word means as they read, and there is a glossary at the
back of the book for those who need it.
Jasmine Seymour is a Darug woman from the Hawkesbury area of NSW and
aims to make people aware that the Darug community is still there
through her work. I hope this is the first of many stories from her.
Fran Knight
Willow Moss and the lost day by Dominique Valente
Illus. by Sarah Warburton. Starfell bk. 1. HarperCollins,
2019. ISBN: 9780008308391.
(Ages 8-12) Recommended. Themes: Magic, Witches, Time, Fantasy.
Dominique Valente's debut fantasy novel conjures up a magical world,
filled with witches and trolls, controlled by an evil time spell. In
the village of Starfell everyone has a magical talent, some are more
exciting than others. Unfortunately, Willow Moss has a simple one,
she can find lost things, wooden teeth, lost glasses, and the
townsfolk line up and pay a spurgle for her help. Then powerful
witch, Moreg Vaine, requests that Willow accompany her on a quest to
find the missing day - Tuesday. The pace picks up as Willow leaves
her home town with her carpet bag and Oswin, a very opinionated
kobold (a green furry cat-like creature) and ventures out into dark
forests and magical towns. Journeying by broomstick, they are guided
by the Storypass, and stopped by the menacing Brothers of Wol, Moreg
who want to rule the world. Danger lurks at every turn, who can they
trust, where will their journey take them?
The young witch grows in confidence as she travels far from home.
Feathering the dragon joins the travellers transporting them up to
Cloud Mountain, meeting a forgotten teller (not fortune teller)
Nolin Sometimes, who reveals more of the mystery to them.
The impact of losing a weekday seems insignificant, until Willow
thinks about all the births, deaths, special appointments and events
that are lost, as history's course is changed. One young witch and
her quite sarcastic sidekick Oswin the kobold finds hidden
strengths, learn resilience and find courage on their dangerous
mission.
Dominique Valente's imaginative world building, cast of unusual
crazy characters, fun conversations, humorous and dangerous
encounters and fast-paced actions make Willow Moss and the lost
day an exciting and enjoyable novel. Middle Primary students
will enjoy diving into this magical world, overflowing with witches,
wizards, trolls and monsters. What's next for Willow Morse and her
caustic kobold?
Rhyllis Bignell
Don't let go by Harlan Coben
Cornerstone, 2017. ISBN: 9781780894249.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Themes: Mystery, Revenge, Secrets.
Best-selling author Coben writes a compelling thriller about the
death of two teenagers, Leo and his girlfriend Diana, who were found
dead on train tracks. Nap Dumas, Leo's twin brother, now a detective
in New Jersey, has never been convinced of the official verdict
especially as his girlfriend Maura disappeared at the same time.
When her fingerprints turn up in the case of a suspected murder, he
is even more determined to find the truth.
Coben is a master at keeping the suspense going in a tightly woven
plot that kept me reading until the twist at the end of the book.
Nap Dumas was a complex and interesting character, and the
exploration of his first love of Maura, adds to the plot. His
investigation of secrets, those of his high school friends, his
colleagues and the government and the notion of revenge make for a
highly readable story, and the short chapters and crisp dialogue
make it a quick read as well.
I had not read books by Coben for many years but will seek out more
books written by him. I really enjoyed this suspenseful, tricky
stand-alone story. A great read for lovers of mysteries and
thrillers.
Pat Pledger
Shauna's great expectations by Kathleen Loughnan
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760631574.
(Age: 16+) Shauna is on an Indigenous scholarship to Oakholme, a
prestigious boarding school. She's in her final year and she's
excelling at French and Maths, and dreams of going to Paris with her
equally smart friend Jenny, before going on to study journalism at
Uni. She has a great group of dorm friends, dubbed the 'ethnics' by
rich country girl Keli, who gives them all a hard time. Keli has
mastered the art of covert racist taunts and seems to have all the
teachers' approval.
I thought the novel gave a particularly insightful expose of the
frequent ineffectual response to bullying in schools despite the
good intentions of teachers and the espousal of an anti-bullying
policy. Shauna and her friends just have to swallow their anger,
occasionally managing a smart retort.
Things start to become more complicated for Shauna at school. She's
asked to mentor the latest scholarship recipient, Olivia, who is
full of attitude and clearly doesn't want anything to do with her.
And she discovers that her summer romance with country boy Nathan
has brought its own complications...
When Shauna finds that some of her dreams are going to have to go by
the wayside as she takes on the responsibility of an unplanned
teenage pregnancy, the tone of the novel is strongly pro-life rather
than abortion, and the drama is how to get the school to accept a
pregnant student. Shauna's ambitions change, she is proud to be a
good mum, friend and student, but how she is going to achieve her
further study is left unclear. It seems to be enough that she has
chosen her own path and has the support of family and friends.
The strength of the novel lies in its affirmation of friendship, and
working through relationships to better understanding, even with the
most difficult people. The friends' conversations and conflicts will
resonate with many YA readers. However I am not sure why the author
took on the persona of an Aboriginal girl - is this an authentic
voice, or a device to distinguish this book from other school
stories? You can read about Loughnan's views in the teaching
notes available online.
Helen Eddy
Wilam: a Birrarung story by Aunty Joy Murphy
Illus. by Lisa Kennedy. Black Dog Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925381764.
(Age: 4 - adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Yarra River, Melbourne,
Aboriginal history, Environment. The stunning acrylic illustrations
that cover every page will entice readers to pore over every detail,
looking out for examples of the environment through which the
Birrarung (Yarra) River flows from the mountains to the sea. Keen
eyes will spot birds and animals, trees and different forms of
forest, insects, flowering plants, houses, bridges and cities. The
river flows through all of these, wrapping itself around both the
modern world and the past, speaking for both cultures which inhabit
this place, joining them together in a way both startling and fresh.
Wilam (home) is home to all, and this inclusive story tells of the
river, encompassing everything and everybody along its shores.
Indigenous and non Indigenous people populate its banks, each as
proud as the other of the river and recognising it as home.
Some of the pages are framed with scenes from the modern world and
those of the past, reflecting Indigenous people and their skills,
linking them with modern skills shown by bridges and roadways. Told
in English and Woiwurrung the language of the Wurundjeri people of
the area now known as Melbourne, the authors, Aunty Joy Murphy and
Andrew Walker grew up in Wurundjeri country along the Birrarung
(Yarra) and both hold dear a responsibility towards this
environment. They worked with Lisa Kennedy, an illustrator working
out of Melbourne. Her links with the Marybyrnong River and its
reclamation are evident in the work she has done for this book,
highlighting the shared aspects of regeneration.
As Woiworrung words are used throughout the book, a wonderful
glossary ends the book, with a smaller version of each page given
with the words and their translation into English shown. Children
will readily accept the different words as they read, learning some
of the repeated words (Wilam, Birrarung, Waa and Warin, for example)
with ease.
This beautiful book adds to the growing number of books
encapsulating our Aboriginal heritage, demonstrating our shared
history and culture. Each page resonates with meaning, begging to be
looked at closely while pondering the enormous time span represented
by this river's being home to so many, in the past, now and into the
future. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
Making friends with Alice Dyson by Poppy Nwosu
Wakefield Press, 2019. 264 pages, pb. ISBN: 9781743056127.
(Age: Teens) Recommended. Making Friends with Alice Dyson is
a story about growing up, growing apart, first loves and getting to
know those around you. It is a story about Alice who is in her final
year of high school and is focused on her future. She studies hard,
she never gets in trouble and nobody bothers her. That is until a
bizarre situation happens with the school's so-called troublemaker,
that ends up with her being the centre of attention. Her! Alice the
textbook nerd, Alice the nobody. No one ever pays her any mind, and
she likes it that way. So why won't he just leave her alone so she
can go back to her normal self? From there, things just get more
complicated and messy.
Poppy Nwosu writes a story that is driven by teenage emotions,
feelings, gossip and drama, and characters that are young and
emotional and really capture what teenagers can be at heart, both
the good and the bad parts. Parts of the story are not given to the
reader right away; the author teases bits of information then skips
ahead to something else. This is a good tactic to keep the reader
interesting and engaged. While this may seem like a bad idea to
some, she makes it work well to further the story. Two important
points I think the author is able to get through in this story are
that sometimes realizing you love someone isn't clear at first. For
the most part, it's messy and confusing but in the end it can be
worth it. And lastly, that people can change a lot during high
school, or even during just one year, but if you value someone's
friendship don't let their changes push you away.
I would recommend this to teenagers.
Kayla Raphael
You ain't seen nothing yeti! by Steven Butler
Illus. by Steven Lenton. Nothing To See Here Hotel bk. 2.
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471163852.
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Trolls, Hotels, Yetis,
Families. Steven Butler's fantastical Nothing to See Here Hotel
series returns with more eccentric characters, hilarious scenes and
a magical mystery to solve. In You ain't seen nothing Yeti
the hotel owners are busily preparing for 'Trogmanay' the midsummer
festival. Amazing food is being cooked in the kitchens, unusual
floral chandeliers hang from the ceilings, and even the walls have
ears that really listen. It's exciting pandemonium! When Nancy the
eight-armed Giant Brittle-back spider returns from food shopping,
she brings news of a freak blizzard sweeping across Asia and Europe;
even the Eiffel Tower is frozen solid.
Swept in by the snowstorm the Kwinzis arrive. The family of yetis
have ridden across continents on their ulk ready to spend time with
Frankie's family and renew their friendships. What does this mean
for the rest of the guests expecting sunny summer activities?
Frankie the owner's son steps up to sort out the problems, caused by
an influx of unexpected visitors and to try and solve the mystery of
a missing relative. Evil comes in some strange forms when Maudlin
Maloney the leprechaun and her lepre-caravan land in a cloud of
feathers. The tension builds dramatically, as the snow radically
changes the landscape. Then as night falls, the walls whisper
secrets of the stranger in the storm and the hotel's imminent
destruction.
Steven Lenton's illustrations cast an eeriness over the scenes, add
heightened tension and bring a liveliness to Butler's unique
characters. With such a fast-paced plot, so many twists and turns,
secrets uncovered and humourous scenes, You ain't seen nothing
yeti delivers another fabulous magical read just right for
ages eight plus.
Rhyllis Bignell
